Nocturnal Animals - 5 Stars

An art gallery owner is haunted by her ex-husband's novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a veiled threat and a symbolic revenge tale.

Amy Adams is one of the finest actors of all time, her performances spellbinding and this role gives her something to truly sink her teeth into. Her character has a real depth and subtlety that makes her interesting to watch. While Adams is riveting, it is Michael Shannon who surprisingly steals the film. Shannon’s policeman is multifaceted and I can easily see him winning an Oscar for his portrayal. Jake Gyllenhaal is also superb, we’ve really seen him thrive in cinema over the last few years.

Tom Ford’s writing and direction is superb - his framing is beautiful and the film looks handcrafted. The contrast of lighting between the novel word and the real world is subtle, but is useful in creating a tonal change. The supporting cast, comprised of Isla Fisher, Michael Sheen, Armie Hammer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Laura Linney and Jenna Malone is superb.

Overall I fear that people will not flock to this, but it’s my favourite movie of the year. Amazing performances, brilliant writing and direction, great cinematography and for once a truly unique idea. Don’t miss this.